Folding beach chair



Nov. 15, 1966 w. H. CRAMER 3,

FOLDING BEACH CHAIR Filed July 16, 1965 2 Sheets$heet l MIMI-N744, W/LL/AM H. CRAMER By WgM Nov. 15, 1966 w. H. CRAMER 3,285,654

FOLDING BEACH CHAIR Filed July 16, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,285,654 FOLDING BEACH CHAIR William H. Cramer, 2169 Kirk Ave., Abington, Pa. Filed July 16, 1965, Ser. No. 472,621 Claims. (Cl. 29735) Therefore, to overcome the foregoing and other diificulties of the prior art, a general object of this invention is to provide a carrying stand and cart which may be converted into a beach chair.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved folding chair which is lightweight and portable.

A further object is to provide a folding beach chair which is economical to produce and which utilizes conventional currently available components that lend themselves to standard mass-production manufacturing techniques.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the inven- FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the direction of line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a folding chair in a closed upright position.

FIGURE 6 is a front view of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged section taken in the direction of line 77 of FIGURE 6.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in the figures a drawing of the folding beach chair of the present invention designated generally as 10. The chair is of a lightweight variety having framework of lightweight tubing and seat supports of a synthetic fabric material.

A base frame 20 is provided by a U-shaped frame of lightweight tubing. A horizontal base member 22 provides a closed end of the U-shape. The vertical members 24, 25 extend from the base member 22 toward an open end of the U-shape, as illustrated. The vertical members 24 and 25 incline slightly toward the front of the chair 10 and are bent to form the horizontal arm members 26, 27 at the open end of the base frame 20. Wheels 36, 35 are provided on each side of the horizontal base member 22 on an axle 35 which passes through the base member 22.

A U-shaped lightweight frame is also utilized for the leg frame 40. The leg base member 42 corresponds to the base of the U-shape with the upright leg members 44, 45 extending upward in a generally vertical direction. The

upright leg members 44, 45 are bent to form horizontal support members 46, 47. The horizontal members have ends 48, 49 pivoted on the base frame 20 by means of pivot pins 50, 51. A seat member 55, of a synthetic fabric, may be connected between the horizontal support members 46, 47 as shown. The leg frame 40 is pivoted at a position inside of the vertical members 24, 25 of the support frame 20 so that it may be easily folded without interference.

The back frame 60 is an inverted U-shape formed of lightweight tubing. The horizontal back member 62 forms the base of the U-shape. The upright members 64, 65 extend downward from the horizontal member 62 to about, respectively, at abutting ends 66, 67 against leg frame 40. The back frame 60 is pivoted on the base frame 20 by means of pivot pins 70 and 71. The back is formed on the frame 60 out of a synthetic fabric sim ilar to that utilized for the seat 55. Additionally, the back side of the back 75 may include a carrying bag 76 having compartments 77, 78, and 79.

The link members 80 and 83 provide a connection between the leg frame 40 and back frame 60. The linkage at both sides of the chair is identical, therefore the following reference is made to the linkage at the left side of the chair shown in greater detail in FIGURES 4 and 7. The pivot link 80 has a pivot hole 88 at one end and a pivot slot 86 at the opposite end thereof. A pivot pin 84 at the end of the upright member 64 of back frame 60 passes through the hole 88, as illustrated. Similarly, a pivot pin 86 at a point on the support member 46 of leg frame 40, projects through the slot 89 of link member 80. Both the pins 84 land 86 project completely through their respective tubular members at a diameter thereof. Notice that the link 80 shown in FIGURE 4 has a generally parallel relationship with the vertical member 24 of base frame 20 when the chair is unfolded. The particular positioning of the pivot pin 86 on leg frame 40 is, of course, related to the length of the pivot member 80. The general location of pin 86 may be defined, however, as being between the apposed portion of frame 40, against which the end 66 of frame 60 abuts, and the pivoted end 48 of frame 40. In this manner, it can be visualized in FIGURE 4 that the weight of a body seated in the chair will cause contraclockwise moments of the frames 20, 40 to securely lock them in an open configuration. On the other hand, a clockwise movement of those frames will separate them slightly, allowing them to be pivoted into the folded parallel relationship shown in FIGURE 7.

The U-shaped bracket stand is a strap of lightweight metal bent to the shape shown. A base member 91 is provided at the closed end of the U-shape and the side members 92, 93 extend therefrom. The ends of the side members 92, 93 are secured by means of rivets 96, 97 to the vertical members 24 and 25 of frame 20 at a position slightly above the wheels 30, 31. The support braces 94, 95 extend out from the horizontal base member 22 of frame 20 to space the horizontal base member 91 of the bracket as shown. The side members 93 of bracket are generally parallel to the horizontal arm members 26, 27 and extend from an opposite side of the base frame 20. As shown in FIGURE 5, the folded chair may be tipped to an upright position for support on the support bracket 90.

The folding chair illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4 is an open position and obviously may be enjoyed for relaxing in the sun. The carrying bag 76 along with the various compartments 77, 78 and 79, may be filled with various beach paraphernalia. When it is desired to move, the chair may be folded to the configuration shown at FIGURE 5. This may be accomplished by (FIGURE 1) lifting slightly on the horizontal arm member 27 while simultaneously pushing downward on the leg frame 40.

3 This accomplishes a clockwise pivoting of both the leg frame 40 and the back frame 60 to slightly separate them, with the link members 82, 83 providing extensions for the upright members 64, 65 of the back frame 20. The leg frame 40 may then be swung upward pivoting it in a counterclockwise direction while the back frame 20 continues in a clockwise direction. This continues until they are in the parallel vertical relationship extending above the horizontal arm members 26, 27. The chair is now folded and may be positioned to stand in an upright position shown in FIGURE 5 by lifting of the leg member 45 as the entire chair will pivot easily about axle 35 in the wheels 30, 31. The bracket 90 will support the chair in an upright position shown. The horizontal arms 26, 27 are now at an inclined position forming an acute angle with the horizontal support members 46, 47. A beach umbrella, or the like, may be laid across the horizontal arm members 26, 27 within the aforementioned acute angle. Base member 42 of the leg frame 40 provides a convenient handle for pulling the folded chair which is now transformed into a carrying stand and cart.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A folding chair comprising a U-shaped base frame including vertical members bent to form horizontal arms at the open-end of said U-shape, a U-shaped leg frame bent to form horizontal support members at the open end of said leg frame, said support members having ends pivoted on said base frame between said vertical members and below said arms, a seat on said leg frame connected between said support members, an inverted U-shaped back frame pivoted on said base frame between said vertical members above said ends of said support members, said back frame having ends in abutting relationship against apposed portions of said support members, a back connected on said back frame, link means pivotably connecting said abutting ends of said back frame to said leg frame for securing said frames in a rigid unfolded chair and selectively enabling said leg and back frames to be separated from said abutting relationship and pivoted together in a parallel relationship extending above said arms in a folded chair, and bracket means on said base frame to stand said folded chair at an upright position with said arms providing carrying racks thereon.

2. A folding chair in accordance with claim 1 wherein said link means are provided by a pair of link members each pivoted at opposite ends, respectively, between said abutting ends and points on said support members, said points positioned between said apposed portions and ends of said support members.

3. A folding chair in accordance with claim 1 wherein said link means are provided by a pair of link members each having a round hole and an elongated slot at opposite ends thereof, said abutting ends each having a pivot pin in operative engagement in said hole of a respective link member and said support members each having a pivot pin in operative engagement in said slot of a respective link member, said pins of said support members being located at points between said apposed portions and ends of said support members, said slots enabling said leg and back frames to be pivoted together in close parallel relationship.

4. A folding chair in accordance with claim 6 wherein said link members and pins are located at inside positions on said respective leg and back frames.

5. A folding chair comprising a U-shaped base frame including vertical members bent to form horizontal arms at the open-end of said U-shape, a U-shaped leg frame bent to form horizontal support members at the openend of said leg frame, said support members having ends pivoted on said base frame between said vertical members and below said arms, a seat on said leg frame connected between said support members, an inverted U- shaped back frame pivoted on said base frame between said vertical members above said ends of said support members, said back frame having ends in abutting relationship against apposed portions of said support members, a back connected on said back frame, a pair of link members having round holes and elongated slots at opposite ends thereof, a first pair of pivot pins through said round holes and at said abutting ends, the second pair of pivot pins through said slots and at positions on said support members located between said apposed portions and ends of said support members, said links securing said frames in an open position and selectively enabling said leg and back frames to be separated from said abutting relationship and pivoted together in a parallel relationship extending above said arms in a folded chair at an upright position.

6. A folding chair in accordance with claim 5 wherein said frames are of a tubular configuration and said seat and back are of a fabric.

7. A folding chair in accordance with claim 5 wherein wheels are provided on said base fname at a closed end of said U-shape, and a carrying bag attached to said back frame.

8. A folding chair in accordance with claim 5 wherein bracket means are provided by extensions on said U- shaped base frame proximate a closed end thereof, said extensions protruding from said vertical members at a side opposite from said arms, said bracket means for standing said folded chair at an upright position.

9. A folding chair in accordance with claim 5 wherein said arms cooperate to form a rack thereon whenever said chair is in a folded upright position.

10. A folding chair comprising a U-shaped base frame including vertical members bent to form horizontal arms at the open-end of said U-shape, a U-shaped leg frame bent to form horizontal support members at the open end of said leg frame, said support members having ends pivoted on said base frame between said vertical members and below said arms, a seat on said leg frame connected between said support members, an inverted U- shaped back frame pivoted on said base frame between said vertical members above said ends of said support members, said back frame having ends in abutting relationship against apposed portions of said support members, a back connected on said back frame, and link means pivotably connecting said abutting ends of said back frame to said leg frame for securing said frames in a rigid unfolded chair and selectively enabling said leg and back frames to be separated from said abutting relationship and pivoted together in a parallel relationship extending above said arms in a folded chair.

References Citedby the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 175,596 9/1955 Hampshire 297-39 282,273 7/1883 Collignon 29735 2,452,405 10/ 1948 Vincent 297359 2,612,209 9/1952 Alldredge et al. 29756 X 2,696,869 12/1954 Schlaak 297-22 2,703,599 3/1955 Vincent 297411 2,812,013 =11/1957 Kreciglowa 297-359 3,059,962 10/1962 Hamilton et 'al 2975 3,075,811 1/1963 Brown 297359 FRANK SHERRY, Primary Examiner. FRANCIS K, ZUGEL, Examiner. 

1. A FOLDING CHAIR COMPRISING A U-SHAPED BASE FRAME INCLUDING VERTICAL MEMBERS BENT TO FORM HORIZONTAL ARMS AT THE OPEN-END OF SAID H-SHAPE, A U-SHAPED LEG FRAME BENT TO FORM A HORIZONTAL SUPPORT MEMBERS AT THE OPEN END OF SAID LEG FRAME, SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS HAVING ENDS PIVOTED ON SAID BASE FRAME BETWEEN SAID VERTICAL MEMBERS AND BELOW SAID ARMS, A SEAT ON SAID LEG FRAME CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS, AN INVERTED U-SHAPED BACK FRAME PIVOTED ON SAID BASE FRAME BETWEEN SAID VERTICAL MEMBERS ABOVE SAID ENDS OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS, SAID BACK FRAME HAVING ENDS IN ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP AGAINST APPOSED PORTIONS OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS, A BACK CONNECTED ON SAID BACK FRAME, LINK MEANS PIVOTABLY CONNECTING SAID ABUTTING ENDS OF SAID BACK FRAME TO SAID LEG FRAME FOR SECURING SAID FRAMES IN A RIGID UNFOLDED CHAIR AND SELECTIVELY ENABLING SAID LEG AND BACK FRAMES TO BE SEPARATED FROM SAID ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP AND PIVOTED TOGETHER IN A PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP EXTENDING ABOVE SAID ARMS IN A FOLDER CHAIR, AND BRACKET MEANS ON SAID BASE FRAME TO STAND SAID FOLDER CHAIR AT AN UPRIGHT POSITION WITH SAID ARMS PROVIDING CARRYING RACKS THEREON. 